PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Ramirez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tokugawa Kazunari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramirez comes to the cage accompanied by Macabre - Nightstalker. Kazunari is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Seeker. Ricardo Ramirez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ramirez
vs
Kazunari

165 cm
27
147 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

160 cm
31
143 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricardo Ramirez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tokugawa Kazunari!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good shot there by Ramirez.
The fighters circling - Ramirez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Kazunari changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ramirez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ramirez is looking for a sweep.
Ramirez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kazunari's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ramirez is trying to get back to full guard.

Ramirez looking for submissions off his back.
Kazunari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ramirez is concentrating on defense, preventing Kazunari from advancing position.
Ramirez won't allow Kazunari to pass to mount.
Ramirez wants to get back to full guard but Kazunari has mounted him!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kazunari with a couple of short strikes.
Ramirez is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazunari lands a nice shot to the head.
Ramirez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ramirez tries to lock up and control but Kazunari gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kazunari in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kazunari has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ramirez tries to hold on but Kazunari postures up.
Kazunari landing punches.
Ramirez has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Kazunari prevents Ramirez from getting the reversal.
Ramirez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ramirez throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kazunari is trying to control the position but Ramirez postures up.
Ramirez preventing the sweep.
Ramirez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kazunari keeping moving, preventing Ramirez from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez is looking to work some ground and pound but Kazunari has wrist control.
Ramirez is looking to advance position but Kazunari has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Ramirez is looking to improve his position but Kazunari isn't that keen on the idea.
Ramirez wants to control but Kazunari is having none of it.
Ramirez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kazunari is keen to just control but Ramirez is a slippery customer.

Ramirez actively working from the bottom here.
Ramirez trying to hold on to Kazunari's head to control him but Kazunari postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ramirez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kazunari pulls his head out easily.
Kazunari lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kazunari is looking to advance position but Ramirez won't allow it.
Kazunari looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ramirez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kazunari is keen to just control but Ramirez is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ramirez is trying to maintain the position but Kazunari is very close to passing his half guard.
Ramirez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kazunari makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Ramirez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kazunari trying to control but Ramirez is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ricardo Ramirez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A shot to the liver by Ramirez. Beautiful body shot.
Ramirez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ramirez scores with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Ramirez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ramirez throws a head kick that misses.
Ramirez misses with a kick to the body

and Kazunari decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ramirez's guard.
Kazunari throws a big elbow that misses.
Ramirez trying to control the position.

Ramirez is looking for a triangle but Kazunari pushes his legs off easily.
Kazunari is looking to work some ground and pound but Ramirez has wrist control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ramirez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kazunari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kazunari slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazunari scoring with some ground and pound.
Kazunari is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kazunari trying to control but Ramirez is working from the bottom.
Kazunari advances to half guard.
Kazunari throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kazunari is trying to control. Ramirez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ramirez wants to control but Kazunari is keeping busy.
Kazunari is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kazunari throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ramirez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ramirez seems keen to control Kazunari's posture.

Ramirez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ramirez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ramirez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kazunari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kazunari trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramirez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ramirez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kazunari.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez is trying to control the position but Kazunari postures up.
Kazunari throws a big right hand that misses.
Kazunari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ramirez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ramirez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kazunari lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kazunari scoring with punches to the head and body.

Ramirez looking for a guillotine here but Kazunari defends easily.
Kazunari trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kazunari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kazunari throws a big elbow that misses.

Ramirez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kazunari trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramirez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ramirez has his foot on Kazunari's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kazunari works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tokugawa Kazunari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ramirez punishes Kazunari's body with a nice straight punch.
Kazunari scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kazunari throws a leg kick which misses Ramirez's front leg but catches the back leg as Ramirez tries to avoid it.
Kazunari moves forwards but Ramirez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kazunari uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ramirez.
Ramirez throws a head kick that misses.
Kazunari ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kazunari feints and then cracks Ramirez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ramirez down.
Kazunari looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ramirez throws a jab when Kazunari was well out of range.

Kazunari scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Ramirez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kazunari pulls his head out easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ramirez is not content to let Kazunari control the position.
Kazunari winds up and cracks Ramirez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramirez trying to control but Kazunari postures up.
Ramirez wants to get back to full guard but Kazunari has passed into side control.
Kazunari working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ramirez tries to bench press Kazunari off him but Kazunari keeps the position.
Kazunari lands a few punches from side control.
Kazunari is putting a hurting on Ramirez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kazunari working the ground and pound.
Tokugawa Kazunari has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ramirez tries to bench press Kazunari off him but Kazunari keeps the position.
Ramirez wants to control but Kazunari postures up.
Ramirez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kazunari cracks Ramirez with a big right hand but Ramirez just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez is looking for a sweep.
Kazunari working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kazunari trying to control the position but Ramirez is working away.
Ramirez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kazunari wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kazunari working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kazunari landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ramirez taking a bit of punishment here - Kazunari scoring with strikes.
Ramirez is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazunari working the body and head with strikes.
Ramirez is being controlled here.
Kazunari works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kazunari in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ramirez is trying to control Kazunari's posture but Kazunari avoids it.
Ramirez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kazunari tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ramirez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kazunari is still trying to improve position.
Kazunari landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez tries to roll over but Kazunari keeps him under control.
Ramirez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kazunari is working away from the top position though.
Kazunari working over Ramirez with some ground and pound. Ramirez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kazunari looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ramirez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ramirez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kazunari is working away from the top position though.

Ramirez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kazunari lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tokugawa Kazunari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kazunari has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tokugawa Kazunari!
During a confident post fight interview, Tokugawa Kazunari thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Ricardo Ramirez was interviewed post fight and said 'Damn.'.